Infant table rail



Nov. 18, 1952 H. w. REECE INFANT TABLE RAIL Filed July 19, 1948 IN1/EN TOR. /fa/f/y M Heede Patented Nov. 18, 1952 IVY'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE, j

INFANT TABLE RAIL Harry W. Reece, Topeka, Kans. Application July 19, 19448,` Serial No. 39,555

' Thisy invention relates to articles of furniture Aand,.-more particularly, tostructure for confining infants, in the nature of an enclosure formed from 4a; plurality of interconnected panels, the primary object being to provide rail structure capable of- 4detachable mounting upon any table-like support,

`such" as thevconventional, well-known card table. l The most important objectr of this invention is the provision of rail structure having a plurality of` panel-like, upright walls or railings all joined,

together and provided with means for securementl to a cardl table in such manner as to be undisjplaceable both laterally and vertically with respect to the table.

Anotherobject of this inventionis the provi-y 'sion of rail structure of the aforementioned char# acter havinga continuous internal groove formed' ladjacent its lowermost edge for receiving the edges of the table top, al1 to the end that the rail,

structure cannot be moved, toany appreciable extentwith respectto the table, by the infant orl others. p J A further object of this invention is to provide a collapsible rail for confining infants, having a plurality of hingedly interconnected panels, each of which panels is provided with a longitudinal groove adjacent the lowermost edge thereof for receiving corresponding edges of the top of a card table, at least two of the panels being provided with releasable elements for holding the entire rail structure clamped to the table.

Other more minor objects will be made clear .as .the following specification progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:`

f jrijg. 1 isa top pian view of an infant tabie'rair'- L showing the same operably mounted upon aV card table or the like. f

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof, parts being in` section to reveal details of construction.`

Fig. 3 is' a fragmentary, perspective view of one corner of the rail structure; and,

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a rail structure showing the rail per se in a partially collapsed condition.

The need has become apparent for rail structure adapted to confine infants within a predetermined area and, also, capable of being mounted upon a support in raised relationship to the floor. particularly have found that the conventional play pen or infants bed is impractical for many purposes, the former being too low to care for the infant without strenuous bending; and infants beds being too deep to permit such care.

Those who care for small children 1 Claim. (Cl. 5 3) .Furthermore it is desirable to have a structure of this character that is entirely collapsible and, therefore, readily movable as desired by automobile or otherwise. Storage, also, is an important factor and this, together with the above'- mentioned objects, are all embodied within the present invention.

The rail structure per se comprises a plurality of elongated polygonal panels I 0, I2, I4 and I6, respectively. These panels are all of substantially the same character, constituting a normally uppermost .longitudinal frame member I8 and a lowermost frame member 20. Frames I8 and 20 are substantially parallel and joined together by end posts 22 as well as by a plurality of spaced, intermediate posts 24. Posts 24 are preferably dowelled in place as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawing, whereas, a mortise joint 30 of any suitable character is utilized to interconnect the en posts 22 and frame members I8 and 20.

` The proximal ends of the two panels I0 and I2 are joined together by apair of hinges 2'6the uppermost hinge 26 only being shown in Figs. 1

and 4 of the drawing. The straps of these hinges; 26 are secured flatly to the innermost faces of frame members I8 and 20 of such panels I0 and I2. A pair of hinges 28 of identical character to hinges 26 join together the proximal ends of panels I4 and I6 in the same manner.

A different type of hinge, however, is provided to join together and adjacent ends of panels I2 and I4, such hinge being disposed on that end of panels I2 and I4 opposite to hinges 26 and 28. This last-mentioned hinge structure isof` a double-pin character and is broadly designated by thenurneral 32. y

One strap 34 of hinge 32 issecured directly to the end of panel I4, while the other strap 36 of hinge 32 overlies and joins with the outermost face of panel I2. An intermediate strap 38 joins hingedly together the two straps 34and 36. As illustrated in Fig.` 3 of the drawing, there are, likewise, two of these hinges for the panels I2 and I4.

It is clear from the foregoing that the four panels may easily be moved from the substantially collapsed condition shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing tothe fully extended positions shown by Figs. 1 and 2. Manifestly, the hinge structures 26, 28 and 32 permit movement of panels I0, I2, I4 and I6 to a substantially flat condition, not shown in the drawing.

The normally lowermost, elongated frame Vmember 20 of each of the four panels is appref ciably wider than the uppermost frame member I8. The normally innermost face of each of these frame members 20 is longitudinally grooved as at 40. Such grooves 40 extend the entire length of all frame members 20 and are preferably substantially midway between the longitudinal edges thereof.

Groove 40 should be suiciently wide to accommodate top 42 of a conventional card table 44. It is well recognized that such card tables, in addition to top' 42; are provided with collapsible legs 46, 'having angular corner braces 48. With groove 40 formed as above mentioned, when the rail structure is placed in use upon card table 44,'

a portion of the bottom of frame members ZA will overlap the uppermost edge oftable top 42 and rest directly thereon. Similarly,aY portion" of frame members will underly the marginal edge of table top 42. y

Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing illustrateY the Width of table top 42 as being slightly less than the' width ofthev groove' 40, which` is .satisfactory since, when therailstructure is so mounted, only f'lmited1 amount of upward movementcanbe impartedto the rail structure" with respect to -tab1e'top42-l Accordingly, it isl possible to form groove'4 with a width that. will accommodate virtually all types of card tablesl presently on the market. The proximal en'ds' of panels l0 and i6 are joined together after the rail structure. is nountedl upon the card table 44 by means of conventional hooks 50 andeyes 52 which, of course, may' bel easily unlatched to permit removalof thel entire rail structure asy desired. When the hooks' are in the` operative position', illustrated in Figs. l and 2 ofthe drawing, all ofthe rails l0,A l2', f4 and I'B will be held tightly clampedabout the periphery of table top 42, preventing lateral displacement thereof with respect to table 44. n While' th 'groove 40' i'sshovvn as' substantially iJ-"sha]1eding 'cross section, such contour"may` be varied' to 'suit 'conditions'. Similarly, the 'rail structurelles been shown to accommodate a con# ventii'fial';v fur'sided; substantially' Square card table but, here again, multi-sided rails may be prvi'dec'lfor tables having more orless than four vertical side edges.'

The particular height of the panels I0, l2',` I4 'andflt'may vary' to suit ,conditions and-in accordance' with the strength and sturdiness of the card table or other` supporting surface used. Mqstcard tables are sufciently strong to supe port the entire rail structure'. asfwell fas-v the,- in'- fantandwhatever bedding is` us`ed1; bugwhen the more` stable4 tables are: used, it is contemi 'platedthat' the heightvof the railing be increased to accommodate larger children, if kdesired-' .l

lult 'is apparent that; no fastening elements whatsfo'everare necessary to interconnect the rail structure'with the table 44 other than the inherent clamping action that takes place when the panels are placed in circumscribing relationship to the table top 42 and the hooks 50 moved into place.

Since most homes have included in their `fui'- niture the usual type of card table, it is a simple matter to transport the rail structure by autotiall'y the same as the length of the table top edge upon which it is mounted.

While only' one embodiment of the present invention haszbeen disclosed and specified, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the scope Oftil aprhifcif Having th'dscnbdmy invention; what'r claiin'as new and'desi're to secure" by Letters Patents? In cbmtinatinjwiths ramena/ing; agpoiysnai top providdvvlvilh ai number ovipeno atedside edges; a' `frameililgeh'enclosure'including 4,a ber Qf int19nnf tednane1$l @achglrsviuedwim a. longitudinal member.. at; the .bottoni thereof there berlgpanelfpreav. 0f Sdedges r- Spectirelr. each membefharmg ai eroren 'its innermost face and-v extending. throughoutits length', the widthV ofthe groovesdb'eihg'L greater than the `thickness of the table/topfadaptingthe saine toV receive a'- lqortiorl'V of f the tabletop adjacent a: correspondige'dgje of insinua", with' 'the' enclosure v.completely ,circumfscribing theAA table top, in partial .overlapping relation'sin .t'lrta and. fQr; suppbrtiiihfebvr relasble structur joining one pair of Said pane1s;faiid hingniears interconnecting all ofsaid panels wherebi-. enclosure may be removed from the table top upon release o fsaid structurand 'thlpan'els folded intoa'sta'ck;

meer w. Resta. I

RFRENCES nl oiilA `:che fortifi rfefaces' are o record file of this patent:

in the 

